Multiple changes are being introduced to Kent hospitals as coronavirus cases begin to surge.

New rules at Maidstone Hospital in Hermitage Lane and the Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Tonbridge Road, mean patients can only have one visitor for a single hour.

Also, only one parent or carer can be with a child patient if agreed with ward staff and patients who need carers will need to have an identified carer permitted to help them.

The hospital trust says it will be offering virtual opportunities for patients wherever possible to keep in contact friends and family.

It also adds anyone attending the emergency department can only have one parent or guardian if accompanying a child, no relatives are allowed unless the patient is under 18 or needs a registered carer, and anyone entering the sites must wear a hospital issued mask at all times and have a temperature check at the front door.

A statement from the Trust said: "Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided to visitors/carers according to individual circumstances.

"Anyone attending our hospitals must wear a face covering at all times. This is to protect you, our patients and our staff from coronavirus.

"When attending our sites please try and keep a two-metre distance where possible and walk on the left-hand side of the corridors.

"Visitors must be symptom free and not under any self-isolation conditions."

Medway Maritime Hospital has also changed some of its visiting times.

A spokesman said: "For most of our wards, visiting is now between 2pm and 4pm, and between 6pm and 8pm. Previously it ran between 2pm and 8pm continuously.

"There remain some exceptions to this – Oliver Fisher (neonatal intensive care) still supports visiting 24 hours per day, and visiting on the maternity ward is still between 8am and 8pm.

"We will also continue to make exceptions under compassionate grounds, and a small number of other wards continue to have slightly different arrangements."

East Kent Hospitals Trust has said there is no change at present for visitors at their sites in Dover, Folkestone and Ashford and Darford and Gravesham NHS Trust said they will be making changed to the policy in the coming days.